Champions League - Liverpool stun Madrid

Eurosport - Thu, 26 Feb 09:10:00 2009

Yossi Benayoun headed a late winner as Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Bernabeu to steal the initiative in their last-16 Champions League tie.

Yossi Benayoun (right) wheels away in delight after scoring Liverpool's winner against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the last 16 of the Champions League. - 0

Benayoun steered home Fabio Aurelio's right-wing free-kick on 82 minutes to complete a masterful smash-and-grab raid from the 2005 European champions and give Rafa Benitez's men a priceless away goal to defend at Anfield.

Liverpool took to the field without captain Steven Gerrard and lost striker Fernando Torres to ankle injury early in the second half, but nonetheless summoned a brave and resolute display.

Madrid dominated the early exchanges, but for all their eye-catching approach play the home side mustered just one meaningful opportunity in the opening period - which fell to Raul on five minutes.

The Madrid captain collected a slide-rule pass from Arjen Robben and shot early from just inside the box, but his sliced effort lacked power and Pepe Reina gathered with ease.

Robben practically owned the ball in the opening 15 minutes, the Dutchman running at Aurelio at every opportunity and cutting inside looking for the chance to penetrate.

But Liverpool held firm, kept their collective concentration and emerged from a period of intense pressure unscathed.

On 20 minutes the visitors had their first glimpse of goal. Torres burst through from the right and drew a sharp save from Iker Casillas under pressure from Pepe.

Suddenly Liverpool came to life. Benayoun chased down a ball forward and Casillas was forced to rush from his goal and hack his clear.

On the half-hour mark Gonzalo Higuain reacted first to a loose ball in the box and headed past Reina at the second attempt - but the Argentine was clearly offside and the goal rightly disallowed.

The first period ended with Xabi Alonso coming close to what would have a spectacular opener. The Spaniard spotted Casillas off his line and let fly from 10 yards inside his own half, but the Madrid goalkeeper scampered back and palmed over.

Madrid manager Juande Ramos introduced Guti for Marcelo at half-time, but still his side struggled to find creative inspiration. His team beat Real Betis 6-1 at the weekend, but to a man looked hopefully bereft of an attacking spark on the biggest stage.

As the second half progressed the game grew disjointed and chances were at a premium. Tackles began to fly in and Fabio Cannavaro, Torres and Javier Mascherano soon found themselves in the book.

Torres's yellow card - for foul on Lassana Diara - would be his last act for the evening after an ankle injury forced the Spanish international striker to make way for Ryan Babel.

With both sides struggling to create chances a goalless draw looked odds on. But when Robben almost broke the deadlock with a crashing 25-yard drive on 71 minutes, the game sparked back into life.

And with eight minutes remaining it was left to Benayoun to steal a famous victory for the visitors, the Israesli heading home unmarked from six yards to leave the notoriously fickle Madrid faithful rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

There was still time for Gerrard to enter the fray as a late subsitute, but in truth his beloved Liverpool side had done the job admirably without him.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

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  1. stuartxland is an idiot. It knows next to nothing.

    From sllowmail, on Fri 27 Feb 12:01PM

  2. Whoes big and hard and passes the ball 40 yards­ ?????????? put it this way its not garys brother...­ He a Fanny !!! Steve .G. is your clue...

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 5:21AM

  3. anthony hjb 08 THAT'S what i like about you­ liverpool fans­ always bangin on about your wins WHAT­ about athens,­ still drivin about in cars with istanbul­ stickers on­ the back windows ??? I've still got­ mine in the window !!! why wouldnt you be proud of­ wining after being 3 - 0 at half time Yes I LOVE are­ WINS But why are you so bothered are you one of them­ bitter blue nose ???

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 5:14AM

  4. ive always thought that football clubs across europe­ were better than the premership but i was wrong ! your­ not as good as you think you are !!!

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 4:59AM

  5. stuartxland: if you post a pic of your season ticket­ youll hav my respect but i know that will never happen­ so how about a pic of you stood in frount of old­ trafford i bet taht wont happen either !!!

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 4:31AM

  6. stuartxland I,m sorry that youve got upset about­ liverpool beating the most sucsessfull club in the­ world... but you need to stop takin your anger out on­ the curly haired scousers and get through the the next­ round of the champ league nob head !!!

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 4:16AM

  7. I was drinking coffee & munching on breakfast in­ the Real Madrid Cafe this morning it was the best­ breakfast ive ever had... i'm lying the best 1 was­ in Instanbull ... 5 TIMES !!!!

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 4:04AM

  8. Just got back from the best night ever!!! did the­ Bernabeu tour this morning and all the staff were­ fantastic!!!i was sat with the spanish and it was­ great. Apart from them large @#$% that call themself­ the ULTRAS who sit behind the GOAL!!! why fight each­ other ??? You stupid dicks !!!

    From andymackey75, on Fri 27 Feb 3:54AM

  9. well donliverpool. madrid only won the european cup 9­ times because of politics. they were/are owned by the­ spanish government.

    From anthonyagriffiths, on Fri 27 Feb 12:09AM

  10. Oh and Anthony please tell your father know that I will­ settle up with him by monday. cheers.......

    From Nicholas, on Thu 26 Feb 10:18PM

  11. Anthony H...........
    Be a good lad and let your mother­ know I'll be 10 minutes late tomorrow evening......

    From Nicholas, on Thu 26 Feb 10:17PM

  12. re post 381. at least they are our own cars.... not­ nicked 1`s

    From craigyb, on Thu 26 Feb 8:59PM

  13. jb 08 THAT'S what i like about you liverpool fans­ always bangin on about your wins WHAT about athens,­ still drivin about in cars with istanbul stickers on­ the back windows ???

    From anthony h, on Thu 26 Feb 8:41PM

  14. a message to all manpoo and chavski fans. where you in­ istanbul? the answer is NO. was that the best final?­ YES.
    YNWA LIVERPOOL TILL I DIE YNWA

    From craigyb, on Thu 26 Feb 8:29PM

  15. I hate when man united supporters refer to them as MAN­ U, the real supporters dont call dem dat for a­ reason!!!!

    From a_kelly_85, on Thu 26 Feb 7:27PM

  16. WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL that was­ exciting........................

    From manu0862, on Thu 26 Feb 7:24PM

  17. must say it was a bit to easy in the end, like utd both­ home teams looked poor ,but pool have an away goal­ which will see them through and utd will see off inter­ at home,chelsea and the gunners i'm not to sure­ they have it all to do

    From anthony h, on Thu 26 Feb 6:54PM

  18. yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssss­ sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!ccccccccccccccccccccc­ cccccccccccccccccccccccccoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm­ mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm­ mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­ nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

    From Liverpool intill die, on Thu 26 Feb 6:03PM

  19. Well done Liverpool. I expected a draw but this is­ great- tie not over yet though!

    From Suzy, on Thu 26 Feb 5:29PM

  20. stuartxland is SILLY KID!!!!

    From elnino, on Thu 26 Feb 4:43PM
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